11 Actors Who Could Run the White House Better Than Obama and Romney

With all the demagoguery and negativity this election season, wouldn’t it be nice to escape to the world of fictional presidents, where every conflict ends with an inspirational speech? In no particular order, here’s a list of TV and movie presidents to idealize when you're tired of hearing about Obama vs. Romney.

(1) President Andrew Shepherd

Movie: The American President

Played by: Michael Douglas

Approval Rating: Falls from 63% to 41% over the course of the movie, but presumably swings back up to startling heights thanks to the power of loooove.

Highlight of Presidency: Delivering a kick-ass speech in the White House pressroom, in which he simultaneously wins back his lady love, stands up for his principles, and effectively dispatches his opponent. (“This is a time for serious people, Bob, and your 15 minutes are up.”)

Real-Life Presidential Doppelganger: Woodrow Wilson: A fellow widower who remarried while in office.

(2) President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet

TV Show: The West Wing

Played by: Martin Sheen

Approval Rating: Probably up around 65%. He is reelected in a landslide and has been referred to as “the most popular Democratic president in recent memory.” “Jed Bartlet 2012” is the second-most popular Google search containing his name.

Highlight of Presidency: Over seven seasons, there might be too many to pick just one. Top contenders include appointing the first female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, schooling his opponent in a debate, and raising the level of political discourse in the country

Approval Rating: Apparently pretty low. Protestors charge him with “totally [destroying] everything this country once stood for,” and the police officer who arrests him for speeding throws him in jail.

Highlight of Presidency: Learning to accept his daughter’s desire to date like a normal teenager.

Real-Life Presidential Doppelganger: George W. Bush, who also had to deal with a wild daughter, and had a similar focus on family values.

(10) President David Palmer

TV Show: 24

Played by: Dennis Haysbert

Approval Rating: Given how rapidly dramatic events unfold on this show (Palmer being forced out of office, assassination attempts, and so on), Palmer’s approval ratings probably yo-yo like crazy.

Highlight of Presidency: Helps prevent the detonation of a nuclear bomb in the U.S. thanks to his partnership with Jack Bauer.

Real-Life Presidential Doppelganger: Barack Obama is the obvious choice, given that Palmer was described on the show as the first black president, and Haysbert himself has said that he thinks the portrayal of Palmer paved the way for Obama’s election. But in surviving two assassination attempts, Palmer might more closely resemble Gerald Ford.

(11) President Jackson Evans

Movie: The Contender

Played by: Jeff Bridges

Approval Rating: He has the support of at least one influential person—Obama called Evans his favorite fictional president.